Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff

“Nepo baby” is an easy label to apply to anyone who joins a family business. What we rarely talk about is the pressure to prove yourself and the effort it takes to be taken seriously. This week on SUPERWOMEN, we sat down with Avery Hale Smith, Chief Experience Officer at Backroads, to talk about the experience of working inside a family business. Avery opens up about the challenge of stepping into a company with such a rich legacy. Avery reveals how she navigated Backroads through the chaos of COVID, when everything was falling apart, and how she rebuilt the company from the ground up. From handling massive layoffs to keeping the business alive with no roadmap, she learned that surviving crises takes a whole lot of grit.  Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Avery Hale Smith, Chief Experience Officer at Backroads (01:44) What is Backroads? (03:33) Growing up around the business (07:10) How Backroads survived COVID (11:32) When chaos becomes the best teacher (13:53) The reality of being a working mom (19:05) Going back to work after postpartum (22:19) Lessons learned from dealing with crises (25:53) The one rule for working with family (27:41) Women's adventures at Backroads  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the thing you worked so hard to build no longer feels like the life you want to be living? In this episode of SUPERWOMEN, Rebecca sits down with Ara Katz, co-founder of Seed, to talk about ambition, loss, and the moments that quietly redirect your life. Ara shares how stepping away from a high-growth tech company and reconnecting with her passion for science led her to build Seed, a microbiome company grounded in clinical rigor rather than wellness hype. We also explore leadership and identity, including Ara’s unconventional management style and her decision to transition from CEO to Chairperson as an intentional evolution, not a failure. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Ara Katz, co-founder of Seed (03:40) How Ara found the confidence to start Seed (08:56) Gut health hype vs real science (11:41) Why most probiotics don’t actually work (19:00) Building a culture around great work, not validation (25:28) Why stepping back as a founder isn’t a failure (33:15) Nurturing Seed’s next phase and building what’s coming (36:26) Leading with love, even when it’s hard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes boredom is the push that leads to your next big thing. For Sammi Cohen, it was the spark that took her from a stable job at Amazon to building a career as a full-time content creator. One viral TikTok video eventually turned into hundreds. And before long, she built Social Currency, a media brand and podcast that reaches millions. In this replay episode of SUPERWOMEN, Sammi shares the story behind that transition. We talk about the patience, grit, and yes, a little bit of delusion it takes to keep going between your first post and your first paycheck. She opens up about building trust with her audience, learning from failure without shame, and developing the instincts to know what content will stick. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Sammi Cohen, CEO and host of Social Currency (03:20) Finding your voice online (09:44) When monetization finally happens (14:17) Sammi’s failed matcha company and starting over (17:05) Dissecting the brands everyone’s talking about (21:43) Turning mistakes into momentum instead of shame (28:51) Redefining balance, priorities, and self-care (32:39) Sammi’s creator instinct (36:54) Navigating criticism and staying fair (41:56) Finding your X factor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people are settled by 40. Carrie Gross was just getting started. With four kids at home and a solid career, her decision to start a new business seemed like a risky choice. But her vision was stronger than the fear. In this replay episode of SUPERWOMEN, Carrie Gross, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, discusses her pivot from fashion to beauty. She shares how she and her dermatologist husband launched the brand with one product—their now-iconic peel pads. We talk about what it’s like to pursue your passion later in life, how to stay married while running a business together, and what it means to grow without burning out. Carrie opens up about early failures, trusting her gut, and staying focused on what really matters. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Carrie Gross, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare (03:01) The elevator encounter that changed her life (06:23) How Dr. Dennis Gross’ Peel Pads took off (11:48) Building a marriage and a business that lasts (16:14) The Sex and the City controversy (17:48) The 2008 crash that led to a brand rebirth (19:03) Selling the company and learning to let go (24:24) Innovating without chasing trends (26:24) Lessons from failure and being too early (27:59) Balancing ambition, motherhood, and slowing down Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world changes, sometimes the best thing you can do is change with it. This week on SUPERWOMEN, Julia Haber, co-founder and CEO of Home From College, shares how she had to pivot her business when the pandemic made everything she had built obsolete. What started as a platform designed for in-person experiences transformed into a digital-first solution to help Gen Z launch their careers. Julia discusses the challenges of pivoting a business, the decisions she had to make to adapt, and the lessons learned about staying flexible and creating new opportunities in our rapidly changing world. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Julia Haber, co-founder and CEO of Home From College (02:10) Eleven internships, a college agency, and early burnout (06:24) COVID hits, and Home From College is born (07:43) Reframing failure and managing anxiety (12:13) The co-founder who became Julia’s husband (16:16) Turning a simple landing page into a real tech platform (17:48) What Gen Z job seekers want from work (21:02) Helping brands work with Gen Z without losing trust (25:52) What founders misunderstand about VC vs. revenue growth (29:44) Real adaptability is having more than one plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fine jewelry business is tough, with knock-offs flooding the market, repeated recessions, and skyrocketing material prices. These are just some of the challenges Adina Reyter has faced. But through it all, she’s still standing strong. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I’m joined by Adina Reyter, founder and CEO of her eponymous fine jewelry brand. Her first buyers were family and friends, but her designs were soon catapulted into the spotlight by celebrities. Now a beloved brand, Adina’s success reflects her commitment to quality, accessibility, and lasting style. We dive into the importance of staying true to your values, even when the market is unpredictable, and how Adina navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship with an unwavering belief in her vision. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Adina Reyter, founder & CEO of Adina Reyter jewelry (02:41) The early struggles of launching a jewelry brand (06:08) Creating affordable fine jewelry true to your values (12:25)Having faith when business gets tough (13:52) How to deal with copycats (20:13) Adjusting prices in response to fluctuating gold costs (23:03) How Adina balances creativity and business strategy (27:08) Getting your kids involved in business   (31:34) Adina’s advice: Work hard and act now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women are constantly told to look a certain way. And if you don’t fit the mold, you’re made to feel like something’s wrong with you. That’s how Jaclyn Fu felt growing up. Being small-chested wasn’t just a sizing issue; it became a source of deep insecurity. But after years of feeling overlooked, she’d had enough and decided to change the industry instead. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with Jaclyn, the Co-CEO of Pepper. Along with her co-founder, she built a bra brand specifically for women with smaller busts. What started as a scrappy prototype on Kickstarter turned into a body-positive movement—selling over a million bras without a single VC check. Jaclyn opens up about the insecurity that started it all, and how she’s now relearning confidence and gratitude in the middle of growth. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Jaclyn Fu, co-founder and co-CEO at Pepper (04:37) The entrepreneurial itch and launching a Kickstarter (08:34) Bra fittings with total strangers(12:29) When Pepper became an eight-figure brand (13:39) How to raise capital without VC funding (18:04) Healing from insecurity and finding confidence (21:21) Growing with intention (22:42) Feeling “perfectly enough” (28:23) Why done is better than perfect Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can talk about love, kids, and sex, but the second money comes up, things get awkward. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with Jackie Combs, Matrimonial & Family Law Partner at Blank Rome LLP. Jackie has seen firsthand what happens when women avoid talking about finances until it's too late. She’s advised clients ranging from celebrities to founders, many of whom didn’t realize what they were financially entitled to or what they'd already sacrificed. We discuss why prenups aren’t just for the rich, how financial red flags can appear earlier than you think, and why it’s never too soon to start these conversations. Whether you're just dating or have been married for ten years, you'll want to hear this. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Jackie Combs, Matrimonial & Family Law Partner at Blank Rome (03:21) Prenups should be the norm (04:50) Why women avoid the money talk (06:51) What a postnuptial agreement looks like (10:08) Why ChatGPT can’t be your lawyer (11:49) Advice to get through tough financial situations (15:14) How to spot financial red flags (17:00) A marriage built on financial partnership (22:41) Cohabitation agreements vs prenups (24:28) Financial blind spots that can ruin your life (26:24) Where to go when you feel lost financially Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but no one said they had to be real. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I’m joined by Melinda Maria, founder and CEO of the $40M jewelry brand that’s redefining luxury. From selling handmade pieces in Starbucks to seeing her designs on the red carpet, she’s built an empire without caving to investors, gimmicks, or the pressure to conform. We discuss how focusing on one thing helped her brand stand out, making “fake” diamonds feel more aspirational than the real thing. Two decades in, Melinda still owns 100% of her business, crediting every major decision to what’s right for the brand, not her ego. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Melinda Maria, founder of Melinda Maria Jewelry (03:45) Moving to big cities with $2,000 and no plan (07:18) Making luxury accessible for every woman (10:44) Turning down retailers to go all-in on e-commerce (15:43) Slow growth is the winning strategy  (21:05) Trade-offs between work and personal life (24:39) Inside Melinda Maria Jewelry’s first flagship store  (28:59) Why you need to build brand equity (31:13) Luxury isn’t about price, it’s about how you feel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2011, three college roommates had a late-night idea to start a blog. No plan, no funding, and no bylines. Fast forward to today, and Betches is one of the biggest names in media, reaching millions of women worldwide. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sat down with Aleen Dreksler, co-founder and CEO of Betches, to talk about how she and her two friends built a media empire from the ground up. Aleen opens up about the challenges of bootstrapping, trusting their instincts, and creating a brand that resonates with women on a deeper level. She also shares how entrepreneurship and motherhood intersect, and how she balances both. Tune in to hear how embracing imperfections and taking risks turned a small blog into a cultural phenomenon. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Aleen Dreksler, co-founder of Betches (02:09) Starting Betches during peak bro culture (06:03) Building a business without outside funding (09:06) Growing with your audience  (12:34) Fighting with co-founders (13:56) The Betches acquisition  (18:03) Scaling the business while staying lean (22:38) Saying goodbye to FOMO for good (25:35) Motherhood, ambition, and being okay with imperfection (30:51) What it’s like to be an employee again (35:11) The two lessons every founder needs to hear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices